MLS: Top 5 Spanish players in league history
By Matt Coles
There have been some amazing foreign imports in the 25-year history of MLS, but who ranks in the top five Spanish players of all time?
In total, 41 Spanish stars have graced Major League Soccer with their presence, with some doing considerably better than others. From the faces of the franchise to less successful ventures, MLS has seen a whole host of Spanish players take to their shores. But who are the top five Spanish players to ever play in the league?
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Here is the MLS Multiplex top five.
5. Oriol Rosell
First up on our list is Spanish midfielder Oriol Rosell, who is currently in his second spell in the American top flight, and now plays for Orlando City. In 2012, Rosell joined Sporting Kansas City and immediately helped the side lift the U.S. Open Cup that year. Twelve months later, and the Spaniard was celebrating another trophy with the club, this time as they won the MLS Cup.
After featuring just seven times in the early part of the next campaign, the Spaniard moved back to Europe, signing for Sporting Lisbon in Portugal. He only played twelve games for the club, with loan spells at Vitoria Guimaraes, Belenenses and Portimonense, before moving back to the United States.
His second stint in MLS began in January 2018 when he signed for Orlando City. He has since gone on to become a key part of their midfield over the last few seasons and has played 42 times for the club since making the move, adding a couple of assists to his regular defensive work.